The biggest enemies - Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford

4/25/2017

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Movies & TV Story: The biggest enemies - Bette Davis vs. Joan Crawford

The most interesting details of a lifelong feud of two strong and talented women who never gave up.

The feud between Bette and Joan is well known and is considered one of the most famous conflicts in the history of Hollywood and a bright example of the struggle of opposites. Perfect beauty of Joan versus specific appearance of Bette. A punctual neatnik versus a diva. A movie star versus a brilliant actress. It was half a feud that never ended.

Furious competitors

Both actresses were successful movie stars in the mid-30's. Hollywood was getting a bit crowded. Anyway, the thing that started the feud was a love affair. In 1935, Davis, by that time a married woman, fell in love with Franchot Tone - a partner on the film "Dangerous". Anyway, Tone had a crush on Crawford. Later Davis admitted that she was really jealous. In the same year, Crawford and Tone got married. However, Davis got her first "Oscar" for "Dangerous". Perhaps the feud would have ended over the years but, in 1943, Crawford left MGM, signed with Warner Bros. and received "Oscar" for her role in "Mildred Pierce" that Davis refused to act. The mutual hatred was finally established.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

In 1962, two enemies met on a film set. By that time both of them lost their good shape and didn't receive notable roles. "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" by Robert Aldrich was supposed to return them to the front pages of newspapers and help them to get in the list of Oscar nominees. Everyone hoped for reconciliation but it never happened. Even the plot of the film encouraged the actresses to play two sisters who disliked each other: talented and beautiful (Crawford) and ugly and untalented (Davis).

Through many years the war continued until the death of Joan Crawford.

"Feud"

Inspired by this unbelievable story, screen writer Ryan Murphy released a TV series about these two amazing actresses and their relationship.

"For more than half a century these two hated each other...and we loved them for it," says the actress Olivia de Havilland performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones. She participated in the filming of the horror "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962) and witnessed the furious opposition between the two divas. The feud looks very juicy and rich on screen and through Hollywood glamour you still can see all the strength of the characters.

What do you think about the conflict? Are you going to watch this TV series? On which side are you? Vote for one of these incredible actresses of Hollywood's golden age in the comments below!

SHARE if you adore both of these beautiful women

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

44 Comments

Chuck Taylor

There hasn’t been an actress in modern times we that could even strike a match to the flame of Ms Bette Davis. She was and always will be The Greatest Actress that ever lived.

Robert Hohmann

Writer says Bette was ugly. When young, I thought she was very pretty.

Antonio Diaz

Two Hollywood legends who entertained the world through their talent.Enough said.The rest is bullshit.

Christopher Neal Wigley

They were professionals. However, Crawford was very meticulous in her acting. Both women were different, but even after the passing of Crawford, Davis hinted they were actually good friends.

M.C.F

Well said, Chuck ....I adored both ladies... but ..Bette Davis there will never be anyone who can give me the chills like her so powerful when she comes on to the screen she can act anyone right off it... I LOVE her

Doris Dallaire

Would love to watch it but don’t get FX

Joyce Greenlees

Irma Rivera, Mommy Dearest.

lls

...well, the adjectives used to define either performer, here, are more than a tad subjective...they were both splendid in their respective films...that was old Hollywood...powerful and streamlined to leave a definite impression. Either--along with many, many others--were top-notch in their performances and nothing less.

lls

Chuck Taylor, I agree! Her opening shots--literally--in "The Letter" blew me away--no one could've dragged me away from seeing that, once I started to watch!

Adriana Zuliani

Joan Crawford had a very difficult personality. She was a very good actress, but I prefer Bette Davis.

Elsy O. Stromberg

Humberto Carrasco, FIX YOUR CAPS LOCK KEY!!

Don Markusic

jgklr, I hope you don't fail him for that comment .

Julie Domaille

Beautiful versus talented. If Crawford had been plain the two would never have met much less competed.

davidmidgley

Their so called conflict was real, but abetted by the publicity machine which actually helped the careers of these 2 women. They would have been silly to "make up" and loose that.

Christopher Neal Wigley

Helen Leitch, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane was a classic.

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